latest
LG Autonomy Battle: Alimosho Council Takes Lagos Assembly To Court Over Alleged Interference
LG Autonomy Battle: Alimosho Council Takes Lagos Assembly To Court Over Alleged Interference. The Alimosho Local Government Council, Lagos has dragged the State House of Assembly before a Federal High Court, Abuja alleging undue and illegal interference in its activities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a copy of the summon obtained by Nevo News on Tuesday in Abuja, the Council asks the court to hold that the Assembly and the Speaker has no constitutional power to perform oversight functions over its activities.
The plaintiff urged the court to hold that the state assembly cannot act as oversight over a democratically elected executive of a local government that has its own democratically elected legislative council.
Co-plaintiff in the suit is the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Sulaimon Jelili, while the respondents included the State Assembly, the Speaker, Attorney-General of Lagos State, Inspector-General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the State Security Service.
The plaintiffs, in the suit filed by their lawyer, Dr Abdul Mahmud said the essential kernel of the case was to assert the autonomy and independence of local governments, pursuant to the recent decision of the Supreme Court.
“The point the suit emphasises is that local governments are not executive agencies of the Lagos state government that the Speaker, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, can exercise oversight functions over.
“The local government, as a separate arm of government, has its legislative arm that rightly regulates those areas like markets that the Constitution has donated powers,” they contended
On the facts of the suit, the plaintiffs alleged that the Assembly, led by Speaker Obasa, vide a resolution dated Aug. 27, instructed the Chairman of the local government to disengage one of the Council’s contractors, Mr. Omotolani Adedayo.
Adedayo was contracted by the Council for collection of market tolls.
In the resolution, the Assembly directed the Council that, after disengaging Adedayo, it should enter into a formal contractual agreement with one Mr. Ejigbadero Abiodun.
The Speaker allegedly threatened that, if the Council Chairman refused to comply with the
resolution and the directive of the house, he would be suspended.
In an affidavit deposed to, by the Secretary of Alimoso Council, Dare Ogunkoya, he said, the Council Chairman is constitutionally saddled with the duties and functions for establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, parks and garages within its jurisdiction.
Ogunkoya said that his constituents had, on numerous occasions, approached the council that they did not want the said Abiodun, being imposed by the Assembly, to collect tolls in the market.
He said the complaint by the constituents was communicated to the Assembly through a letter dated Sept. 4 by the plaintiffs.
According to him, the action of the Assembly amounted to intimidation and usurpation of powers of the Council Chairman.
The plaintiffs therefore sought the court declaration that, by the combined reading and interpretation of Sections 7 and Item 1(e) of the fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, they are the only body permitted by the constitution to establish, maintain and regulate markets within their jurisdiction.
They sought the court declaration that the resolution of the Assembly is null and void for having no basis in law.
The plaintiffs also urged the court to declare that the Assembly has no constitutional powers to suspend the Council Chairman.
They urged the court to restrain the defendants from suspending the Council Chairman.
Speaking with NAN, Mahmud, the plaintiffs lawyer said the court processes had been served on all the respondents, but no date has been fixed for its hearing.
The lawyer noted that the resolution of the matter would set another precedent in the nation’s Jurisprudence, as it relates to Local Government autonomy.
“The suit is coming on the heels of the recent Supreme Court decision in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024 AG Federation V AG Abia State & 35 Ors which granted autonomy to local government.
“The existence and independence of the Local Government is still under threat from various quarters.
‘The Court’s interpretation of the questions put before it, will further strengthen earlier decisions on the autonomy of local government” he said.
Meanwhile, Nevo News reports that the House of Assembly on Monday suspended the embattled Council Chairman, indefinitely
The decision, which was reportedly reached during Monday’s plenary session, came after lawmakers voted unanimously to remove Sulaimon over allegations of misconduct and defiance of the legislative House.
The Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson, was directed to assume control of the council’s affairs.
Reacting to the development, however, Mahmud said the purported suspension of his client was unconstitutional and constituted blatant affront on the recent decision of the Supreme Court which affirmed the autonomy of local government under the 1999 Constitution.
He added that the action of the legislative house and the Speaker, when they had been served with the court document, is subjudice, and a deliberate attempt to ambush and foist helplessness on the court.
The lawyer assured that the coercive actions of the Speaker and the encroachment of the Assembly on the constitutional powers of the local government, would be resisted within the bounds of laws.
latest
‘Pain Before Prosperity’: Presidency Declares Current Hardship A Temporary Hurdle On The Road To Nigeria’s Economic Revival!
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has asserted that Nigerians are beginning to experience the positive impacts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms. He pointed to increased funding for states, improvements in infrastructure, and strengthening macroeconomic indicators as evidence that the administration’s policies are steering the country toward growth.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
During an interview on Arise TV, Onanuga countered criticisms from political opposition figures, maintaining that public support is increasing because citizens are seeing tangible changes in their local communities. He highlighted that state governments are now better equipped financially to undertake significant projects, including the construction of schools, roads, and health institutions.
Regarding the management of the naira, Onanuga defended the move to let market forces determine its value, stating this helped remove economic distortions and that the currency shows potential for further appreciation. While he acknowledged that many Nigerians are facing increased costs of living, he characterized these challenges as the “inevitable consequences” of necessary major reforms, comparing the current situation to a temporary period of pain before long-term prosperity.
On other key policy areas, Onanuga noted:
-
Electricity Reform: He identified the Electricity Act as a landmark achievement that empowers states to independently generate, transmit, and distribute power, fostering a more competitive sector.
-
Insecurity: He disputed claims that insecurity has worsened, arguing that some media reporting and opposition rhetoric exaggerate the reality of the situation.
-
National Unity: He explained that the restoration of the old national anthem was a deliberate action by President Tinubu to emphasize the importance of unity and brotherhood among Nigerians despite their differences.
Onanuga concluded by affirming that the administration is laying the foundation for a stronger economy and that official communication remains consistent, even if the President’s personal style differs from his predecessors.
latest
Tension Erupts: Atiku’s Aide Dares Tinubu To Resign, Branding It A Move Of ‘Strength, Not Weakness’.
Paul Ibe, the media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Ibe argued that stepping down is a patriotic decision rather than a sign of weakness when a leader fails to meet the fundamental duties of government—specifically the security and welfare of the citizenry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Ibe criticized the current administration as “incompetent” and “clueless,” asserting that the government’s approach to insecurity has been an ineffective cycle of “trial and error”. He pointed to the ongoing captivity of various victims and recent violence in Plateau, Benue, Oyo, and Kogi states as clear evidence that the government has failed to protect vulnerable communities or restore public confidence.
Regarding the proposed introduction of state police, Ibe clarified that while the Atiku camp supports the concept in principle, they view the government’s current push to legislate it ahead of the 2027 elections as a political maneuver rather than a genuine security initiative.
Furthermore, Ibe addressed public sentiment regarding the political establishment, noting that it remains the prerogative of Nigerian voters to evaluate whether Atiku Abubakar possesses the necessary competence and skill set to lead the country. He also dismissed recent media reports concerning alleged conditions set by former Minister Rotimi Amaechi for a potential running mate role, labeling such claims as mere speculation and stating that the party will handle its ticket announcements in due course.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to submit a no-case plea in his ongoing wiretapping trial following the Department of State Services (DSS) decision to rest its case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS had charged the former governor with five counts, including unlawful communication interception and threats to national security, stemming from his February interview on Arise Television where he claimed to have intercepted a call involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding his own potential arrest.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
During Tuesday’s proceedings, DSS counsel Oluwole Aladedoye announced that the prosecution would not present further witnesses. In response, El-Rufai’s defense counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), declared the intent to file a no-case submission, asserting that the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence to warrant a formal defense. Both parties have been granted two weeks to submit their respective filings.
Additionally, the defense requested a relaxation of El-Rufai’s bail terms, labeling the current requirements—which include sureties who are Level 17 civil servants with property in Maitama or Asokoro and verification from the Kaduna State Traditional Council—as overly burdensome. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik denied the request, maintaining that qualified civil servants exist who can meet these conditions. The case has been adjourned until September 22 to address the no-case submission and move forward with the trial.
-
latest10 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics3 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics3 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp